Therapeutic mattress



May 17, F. HAYES THERAPEUTIC MATTRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 1947 2 m 0 a z z W 3 a 4 1 I2 2 Z: a 2 7 3 4 ll. 0, w i 2 4 A 41 w a 4 7 3 W 3 F m 1 V W 4 H 5 W )8 a n U z 0 T/ 3 e r w 3 rr, 5% 5 r 0 2 JIM/444 4 4, 4 0/ Fig.2

May 17; 1949. F. HAYES V THERAPEUTIC MATTRESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 1, 1947 FEEDER/CA m4 Y5 Patented May 17, 1949 ,UNITED STATE-S PAT ENT SCIaimS.

. l vfl'hisrinnention relates. to g; improvements. in therapeuticimattresses, and. moreparticularly to amattress =-especial1y "arranged for-.:the.-care of paralytic ;-cases.

.-It is: among the objects of; the invention to provide: an improved therapeutic mattress having a base; portion substantially; in :the, form of a conventlonal; box-type mattress, but having fastening elements arranged in predetermined patterns'on one: or both; races thereof for the attachment of specially designed pneumatic rest pads to=the base portion of the mattressnand to provide adjustable foot? rests ton themattress, wherein-:the rest pads are arranged to support the head, back, arms, hips and legs of apatient;in,;-comiortable position, are inflatable to 'diiferent'deg-rees' of firmness to provide maximumarelaxation; andv are removable for cleaning: repair .and geplacement, or when the function of'aoneiorj more (if-them. is not required, wherein the foot rests resiliently support thepatientis'.feetr.inucomfortable:position; are provided with iastening'means .ior securing the feet; thereto and are. .depressable to a; position in which athey aresubstantially *fiush with the surface of the base-portion of the mattress, when not in use, and whereinthe base portion provides a conventional mattress having a smooth upper surface when'all oii-the pads-are removed and the foot rests depressed, which mattress is waterproof and sanitary,;fits aconventiona-l hospital bed, issimple in construction, economical --to 'manufacture, and convenient-to use,relieves;=the fatigue of para- 1ytic= patients; and greatly facilitates the work of attendants in caring for suchpatients.

other objects: and advantages will become ap-' fiatable', hip-supporting =pad taken substantially on. the: line 5$'-5 ofFigure 1 'Eigure' 6 is a transversecross-section on a somewhat enlargednscale of the head supporting pad ioripillowishown"inflated and attached to the basecportion. otathe .mattress, the section beingtakenesubstantiallyrontheclin'e 6 -45 of Figure 1;

.Figureifi is iaxlongitudinal cross-section ofafoot support .takenxsubstantially .on the lin'e I-J of Figure :1 and 'Figure '8; 1' is r a detailed vplamvievv. of a; sanitary-';

32 gauge pad attachable to :the hip-supporting pad shown in Figure 5.

Referring; .to the drawings, the supporting or base portion of the improvedortherapeuticmattress comprises a pad or cushion lllwhich is-preferably of, the size and shape of, a conventional or standardbox-type mattresssuch as is conven tionally used" on n hospital beds and may, in general, have-the same construction as aconventional hospital bed mattress; or othersuitable type of mattress, ii desired, and maybe of either felt, fibre or inner-spring construction. Y For the sake ofsimplicity in :the: description and claimsythis box-type mattress 'portion' l 0 will hereinafter :be referred to as the mattress-base was the base.

The base 10 is provided :withupper and lower covers I I and fastening elements It, particularly illustrated in Figure 3-, are securedinto one or both of the covers II and arranged in predeterzmined patternsto detachably engage with -cooperative fasteningelementssecured to inflatable rest pads presently to be described.

The pneumatic or inflatable rest cushionsinclude a head pillow :l3 disposed at oneend of the base It) on the upper sur-iacethereof, as illustrated in (Figure 1, a'pair-of arm rest-pillows' lkand annular mp-supporting cushion, generally indicated -at l5, and a leg-supporting cushiomgenerally indicated at Hi one end of which'is closely associated with :the I hip-supporting cushion Y or pad 15.

The head-supporting pad or pillow" i3 is-sh0wn in section in Figure b,v and comprises two sheets of flexible, impervious material, such as rubberized fabria-secured togetherarou-nd the edges thereof in a manner .to provide an outwardlyextending marginal flange FL. inwhich fastening-elements 18 are secured, The fasteningelements l2 and i8 are preferably -coope'rative #parts of conventional :snap fasteners by means of which the rest pads may-be: detachablysecured to the mattress base llLso' that they may be removed, when" desired,- for cleaning-wrepair or when:the function of one or more of them is not required. "The' pillow or pad I3 is inflatable-to a thicknessupto approximately six inehes,='and is of substantially the same size *and the: general shape of a conventional pillow." The arm rest pads-i [4 are of: the same general shape asthe head rest pad 'or pillow [3, but areof less width. These pads ld'are-also -formedof -two sheets of relatively impervious material -margina1ly' secured together to provide outwardly-extending flanges in which iasteningelementsare secured, and which fastening elementscooperate-with certain of I the fastening elements 12* inthe cover of thebase lU-to-detachably secure the arm rest pads l4 inoperative position.

The hip-supporting pad, generally indicated at 1 I 5-, is an annular-pneumatic cushion also formed of two layers or sheets of relatively impervious material secured together at the inner and outer edges of the annular cushion and provided with an external flange I9 to which fastening elements are secured which also cooperate with certain of the fastening elements I2 to detachably secure this pneumatic pad I in operative position. The annular portion 23 of the pad I5 is provided with two oppositely-disposed, pyramidal projections 2| and 22 which extend inwardly of the portion 20 substantially along the longitudinal center-line of the cover of the base Ill, and in position to lay between the hips of a patient supported on the mattress. The annular ring-shaped cushion 20 is provided on its upper surface with snap-fastening elements 23 by means of which a. sanitary gauze pad 24%, particularly illustrated in Figure 8, may be attached to the hip-supporting cushion to overlie the area of this cushion.

The head-supporting cushion I3 is provided with a single air valve 25 and each arm-supporting cushion is provided with a single air valve 26 while the hip-supporting cushion I5 is preferably provided with a pair of air valves 2'! located at opposite sides of the cushion for convenience in inflating the cushion or varying the inflation pressure while a patient is in position thereon. In certain applications it may also be found desirable to divide the cushion I5 into two halves separated by internal partitions so that the two halves may be inflated to different pressures to provide the maximum comfort for certain paralytic cases.

The leg-supporting pad I6, shown in transverse cross-section in Figure 4, comprises two sheets of relatively impervious material secured together marginally in a manner to provide external flanges 23 into which fastening elements are secured to cooperate with certain of the fastening elements I2 to detachably secure the legsupporting pad I6 to the cover of the base It. The two sheets comprising the upper and lower portions of the pad I6 are also secured together intermediate the width of the pad to provide marginal projections 29, leg-supporting pads 33 lower than the projections 29, and a central projection 3| which extends upwardly between the pad portions 30 to maintain the legs separated and in a substantially straight position. In an operative arrangement the pad portions 33 have a maximum inflation thickness of approximately two inches, the marginal upstanding projections 29 a maximum height of approximately four inches, and the central projection 3| a maximum height of substantially six inches, the projections 29 and 3| preferably having a somewhat triangular, cross-sectional shape in order that they may comfortably conform to the shape of a persons legs. At the end of the pad I3 adjacent the pad I5, the end portions of the portion 30 are so shaped that they will raise under inflation somewhat above the level of the remainder of the leg-supporting portion, as indicated at 32, to provide a smooth, inclined connection between the upper surface of the hipsupporting pad I5 and the upper surfaces of the leg-supporting portions 30 of the pad I6. Each of the portions 32 is preferably connected with the center extension 3| and with the corresponding marginal extension 29 to pneumatically connect the center extension, the leg-supporting pad, and the marginal extension at each side of the pneumatic pad I6. A pair of air valves 33 are provided one at each side of the pad I3 at the ends thereof which fits against the corresponding end of the pad I5 so that the pad I6 can be conveniently inflated from either side and both sides thereof brought to the desired inflation pressure.

Straps 34 provided with respective buckles 35 are secured to the tWo sides of the pad I6 in position to pass across the leg-supporting portion 30 thereof so that the patients legs may be held in position on the pad I6, when desired.

A pair of foot supports 36 are provided at the end of the pad I6 remote from the pad I5. One of these foot rests is illustrated, in detail, in Figure 7, and comprises a base or support 31 firmly secured in the foot-end portion of the base. If desired, the support 31 may extend entirely through the mattress base and be secured to both covers and the filling thereof and to the end-wall of the base, each support 31 being provided in its upper surface with a recess 38 of a shape and size to receive a foot-supporting leaf 39 hinged at one end to the support 3! at one end of the corresponding recess by a suitable countersunk hinge 43.

A compression spring 4| secured in the supporting portion 31 bears at its upper end against the under-side of the leaf 39 to resiliently urge the leaf to the foot-supporting position illustrated in Figure '7. A strap 42 is secured at one end to the outer end of the leaf 39 and is provided at its opposite end with a fastening element 43 engageable with a cooperating element 44 secured to the end-wall of the support 31 to releasably hold the leaf 33 in retracted position in the recess 38, when desired.

The leaf 39 of each foot rest is provided with a strap 45 by means of which the patients feet may be secured to the rest, when desired. The two foot rests are entirely similar in construction and are disposed one at the end of each of the legsupporting portions 30 of the pad I6 in position to comfortably support the feet of a patient whose legs are positioned on the leg-supporting pad i3.

When the leaves 39 of the foot rest are held in the corresponding recess 38 and the various pneumatic cushions removed from the base I0, the base It may function as a conventional mattress having a smooth upper surface since the upper surface of the foot-rest support 31 is flush with the upper cover I I of the mattress base.

As explained above, all of the pneumatic rest cushions may be used when necessary, or one or more of them may be omitted when its function is not required, and the cushions may be suitably inflated to provide the maximum condition of comfort and relaxation for a patient supported on the mattress.

The improved therapeutic mattress is effective to support a paralytic patient in a manner to greatly alleviate the pain and fatigue of his condition and also greatly facilitate the work of attendants in caring for such a patient by providing rest pads which will remain in place and which may be made hard or soft by varying the inflation thereof as may be found to provide the maximum comfort for the patient.

The invention may be embodied in other specii-lc forms without departing from the spirit oressential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A therapeutic mattress comprising a mattress base having a shape corresponding to that of a conventional box mattress, a plurality of flush-type fastening elements secured to the covering over one face of said base and arranged in predetermined patterns, a plurality of inflatable pads having respective marginal flanges, and a plurality of fastening elements secured in each of said flanges and engageable with fastening elements secured in the cover of said base to detachably secure said pads to said base in predetermined positions thereon, a pair of hollowsupports secured in said mattress base near one end of the latter and a pair of foot rests secured respectively to said supports, depressible to a position in which they are substantially flush with the upper surface of said base, and spring means in said supports resiliently urging said foot rests to a raised, foot-supporting position.

2. A therapeutic mattress comprising a base having a shape corresponding to that of a conventional box-type mattress, a plurality of flushtype fastening elements secured to the covering over one face of said base and arranged in predetermined patterns, a plurality of inflatable pads having respective marginal flanges, and a plurality of fastening elements secured in each of said flanges and engageable with fastening elements secured in the cover of said base to detachably secure said pads to said base portion in predetermined positions thereon, said pads comprising a full-size pillow for the patients head, smaller pillows constituting arm-rest pads, a hip-supporting pad, a leg-supporting pad, said hip-supporting pad comprising an annular pneumatic pad having a transversely convex upper portion and two oppositely-disposed pyramidal extensions projecting inwardly thereof in position to lie between the hips of a patient.

3. A therapeutic mattress comprising a base portion having a shape corresponding to that of a conventional box-type mattress, a lurality of flush-type fastening elements secured to the covering over one face of said base portion and arranged in predetermined patterns, a plurality of inflatable pads having respective marginal flanges, and a plurality of fastening elements secured in each of said flanges and engageable with fastening elements secured in the cover of said base portion to detachably secure said pads to said base portion in predetermined positions thereon, said pads comprising a full-size pillow for the patients head, smaller pillows constituting arm-rest pads, a hip-supporting pad, and a leg-supporting pad, said hip-supporting pad comprising an annular pneumatic cushion having a transversely convex upper portion provided with fastening elements for the attachment of a gauze pad thereto, an external flange around the lower portion thereof carrying fastening elements for the attachment of said pad to said base portion, and two oppositely-disposed, pyramidal extensions projecting inwardly thereof in position to lie between the hips of a patient supported on said pad.

4. A therapeutic mattress comprising a base portion having a shape corresponding to that of a conventional box-type mattress, a plurality of flush-type fastening elements secured to the covering over one face of said base portion and arranged in predetermined patterns, a plurality of inflatable pads having respective marginal flanges, and a plurality of fastening elements secured in each of said flanges and engageable with fastening elements secured in the cover of said base portion to detachably secure said pads to said base portion in predetermined positions thereon, said pads comprising a full-size pillow for the patients head, smaller pillows constituting arm-rest pads, a hip-supporting pad, and a legsupporting pad, said leg-supporting pad comprising a longitudinal central ridge, inflated leg-supporting portions having an inflated height materially less than the inflated height of said central ridge extending one along each side of said central ridge, marginal ridges having an inflated height greater than that of said leg-supporting portions but less than that of said central ridge, disposed one along the outer edge of each legsupporting portion, corresponding end portions of said leg-supporting portions having a thickness greater than the remainder of said leg-supporting portion .and pneumatically connected with said central ridge and the corresponding marginal ridges, and flanges extending outwardly from the outer of said marginal ridges carrying fastening elements for securing said pad to said base portion of said mattress.

5. A therapeutic mattress comprising a base having a shape corresponding to that of a conventional box mattress, a plurality of flush-type fastening elements secured to the covering over one face of said base and arranged in predetermined patterns, a plurality of inflatable pads having respective marginal flanges, and a plurality of fastening elements secured in each of said flanges and engageable with fastening elements secured in the cover of said base to detachably secure said pads to said base in predetermined positions thereon, and a pair of foot rests secured to said base depressible to a position in which they are substantially flush with the upper surface of said base and resiliently urged to a raised, foot-supporting position, said foot rests each comprising a supporting portion secured in said mattress base and having recesses in the upper surface thereof, a foot-supporting leaf secured to said supporting portion and receivable in said recess, a spring operatively disposed between said supporting portion and said leaf to resiliently urge said leaf out of said recess and into foot-supporting position, and means attached to said leaf and detachably connectible with said supporting portion to secure said leaf in said recess against the force of said spring.

FREDERICK HAYES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 136,395 Walton Mar, 4, 1873 559,218 Robinson Apr. 28, 1896 628,498 Sommers July 11, 1899 1,372,505 Hanson Mar. 22, 1921 1,562,809 Thompson Nov. 24, 1925 1,592,496 Madden July 13, 1926 2,324,619 Dunn July 20, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 477,582 Germany June 13, 1929 

